Sight Words
The teacher has many ESOL students who struggle to learn sight words. Many of these students do not have anyone at home to practice sight words with. If students do practice many of the words are learned incorrectly. Any suggestions on how to help ESOL students practice sight words at home?

To help ESOL students with sight words allow them to practice with a game. Have different methods of learning, saying, writing, and comprehending these sight words. One example would be to have the class create a song using a few sight words, once they know the song and can recognize the words change the words. Also having students fill in funny little stories using the words will benefit. Make up stories were the student have to know the words to complete the story.

I would relate the words with pictures as well so that these students can have a visual representation to go along with their sight words. I find that ESOL students learn sight words best when they are combined with pictures.

This solution would only work if the student had access to a computer at home and internet connection but ABCmouse.com/reading offers interactive activities helpful for students learning new words (sight words, phonics, and books). The sight recites the words to them so they see and hear the word being said at the same time.

You could provide the student with a dictionary and/or a translating app/ computer program. This may help the student understand what the sight words mean in his/her own language. You could also start a blog or youtube channel where you teach the words in a video format. This would help the student learn the words and the parents may be able to help the student study as well.

I would suggest creating flash cards for the students that have a picture on one side and the word on the other side. When they study they can look at the picture, say the word, and then spell it. This will allow them to make connections to the word to help them remember it.

Since most of these students do not have support at home because of the language barrier, I will suggest for the teacher to do at least 15 minutes of differentiated instruction everyday with small groups at a time. For home, I will have students to work on free websites that have emphasis in sight words. This way , students will be listening to the computer and fill in, do vocabulary work through the computer system.

If a child is struggling with sight words or learning word incorrectly I would make flash card with the English version on the word and a picture on one side and the word in their language on the other to help them bridge the words and learn them correctly.

Create a youtube video for your students. I had a math teacher who created a youtube video that reviewed each lesson she taught in class. By creating a youtube video for your ESOL students, they can watch the video and practice to pronounce the sight words correctly the first time. Give the students an achievable number of hours you want them to watch your videos and practice their English as well as what rewards they will have when they return to class.